After all the wedding presents have been opened and your honeymoon tan has faded, you may be thinking about starting a family with your new husband. If that’s the case — congrats! Even if a baby isn’t in the cards just yet, there are a few important things to know about getting pregnant after traveling to a honeymoon destination with reported cases of the Zika virus.

Earlier this year we outlined places where the Zika virus is prevalent (Mexico, the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos and many more). With so many places declared a Zika zone, there’s a pretty good chance that your honeymoon spot is on the list.

But you don’t need to freak out! The Zika virus is only active for six months in men and eight weeks in women. If you’re trying to get pregnant immediately after a honeymoon in a Zika-positive area, here are a few important things to note:

  • Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. So, if you’re thinking about having a baby, wait at least eight weeks after your symptoms started or six months after your male partner’s symptoms started before trying to get pregnant.

  • Infection during pregnancy can cause a birth defect called microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects.

  • There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika.

The CDC recommends that women get tested for the virus if 1) you have symptoms of the virus, 2) you traveled to an area with a risk of Zika, and 3) you had sex without a condom with a partner who lives in or traveled to an area with a risk of Zika.

If you fall under that category, see your doctor ASAP. Doctors can confirm a Zika infection in a male or female by an easy blood or urine test. For more info on testing and symptoms, head to the Arkansas Department of Health's website. 

Zika can be avoided with proper prevention! For some of the top-rated bug sprays to keep Zika at bay, check out our story here.